fence. He puts a folded piece of paper into it
and leaves, turning back toward Summit.
I slid down the tree, got the note and was back
at the cave in a half hour. I opened the note and
read it to Bill. This is what it said:
"Gentlemen: I received your letter about the ransom you ask
for the return of my son. I think you are a little high in
your demands. I hereby make you a counter-proposal,
which I believe you will accept. You bring Johnny home and
pay me two hundred and fifty dollars, and I agree to take
him off your hands. You had better come at night because
the neighbors believe he is lost. And, I could not be
responsible for what they would do to anybody they saw
bringing him back. Very respectfully, Ebenezer Dorset."
"Great pirates of Penzance!" says I, "of all the
nerve…" But I looked at Bill and stopped. He
had the most appealing look in his eyes I ever
saw on the face of a dumb or talking animal.
"Sam," says he, "what's two hundred and fifty
dollars, after all? We've got the money. One